Lord Ashcroft to write blockbuster biography of Nigel Farage amid Reform surge

The author of blockbuster biographies of David Cameron and Angela Rayner is now turning his attention to Nigel Farage and the rise of Reform UK. Lord Ashcroft, a former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, said British politics is now "at a turning point" and has become a "three-horse race".

The businessman sent shockwaves through the Tory establishment with Call Me Dave - a biography of the then-prime minister co-authored with Isabel Oakeshott - which scrutinised his early years and rise to power. Last year's Red Queen? made headlines with its examination of the Deputy Prime Minister's sale of her former council house.

His decision to now focus on the rise of Mr Farage is further evidence of how the popularity of Reform has shaken UK politics. Politico's poll of polls puts Reform on 29%, ahead of Labour (23%) and the Conservatives (18%).

Lord Ashcroft told the Express: "British politics is at a turning point, with Labour, the Conservatives and Reform UK jockeying for position. My next book is going to examine the upshot of this three-horse race by looking in depth at the rise of Reform UK and how its presence is realigning British politics."

His most recent book is Red Flag: The Uneasy Advance of Sir Keir Starmer.

The new work on Mr Farage and Reform is due to be published in 2026. Next year presents major challenges for all three parties with the Scottish and Welsh elections providing a key test of their popularity; a YouGov poll on Welsh voting intentions this month put Reform in second place on 25% - behind Plaid Cymru (30%) and above Labour (18%) with the Conservatives on 13%.